The ‘Melo Meter’ Succeeding Knicks-Pistons Game
Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
On Monday night, the Detroit Pistons defeated the New York Knicks 96-85. This was the Knicks’ seventh-consecutive defeat as Carmelo “Melo” Anthony is nearing an opt-out option in his contract.
Melo had 28 points, five rebounds, three steals and two assists for the Knicks. It was not enough for the Knicks to end their six-game losing streak.
The Pistons had five players score in double digits. Their leading scorer was Andre Drummond with 17 points in the team’s 96-85 victory.
Melo appeared very frustrated with the latest defeat, according to the Associated Press-AP. “I’m running out of comments,” he said.
Each loss is especially significant because he has a player option for the 2015 season, according to HoopsHype.com. This means that he could choose to keep his current contract intact or opt-out of it during the off-season.
If he chooses to opt-out of it, he would become a free agent and could sign with any team. This has led to numerous media outlets writing articles and discussing his impending ‘decision.’
I have decided at EmpireWritesBack.com to devise a “Melo Meter.” The Melo Meter judges the likelihood that I think Melo is likely or unlikely to opt-out of his current contract.
The scale is from 1-10 with one being a strong likelihood that he stays with the Knicks and 10 being a strong likelihood that he decides to become a free agent during the off-season. It will be updated after every Knicks’ game this season.
I currently have him at an 8.5 on the Melo Meter succeeding last night’s defeat to the Pistons.
Analysis: The reasons why I have him at an 8.5 are because the Knicks are struggling and Melo appears very frustrated.
Last season, the Knicks finished with a 54-28 record and advanced to the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Succeeding that playoff run, there was a lot of optimism surrounding the Knicks during the 2013 off-season.
They have not come anywhere close to living up to expectations.
Succeeding Monday night’s defeat, they currently have a 21-40 record and are in 11th-place in the Eastern Conference. They are 13 games behind the Toronto Raptors in the Atlantic Division and seven-and-a-half games behind the Atlanta Hawks for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
The Knicks are now on a seven-game losing streak and Melo appears very frustrated by the aforementioned quote. He has been one of the few bright spots in a disappointing season for the team.
In 58 games this season, he is averaging 28.0 points, on a 45.3 field goal percentage, 8.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.6 blocks per game. In the below quote, Melo appears to want to do whatever it takes to win a championship.
Melo could perceive the Knicks performance this season as him having no chance of winning a championship in New York.
The reasons why I did not list him higher on the Melo meter is because of what he told ESPN and the fact that the Knicks are mathematically alive in the playoff hunt.
During an interview on SportsCenter, Melo said that he would consider returning under the right circumstances.
"I have the chance to attract some people to come to New York,” Anthony said. “Everybody saw this last year, how electrified that city was. I kind of want to bring that back. If I can become a free agent to make that happen, then I want to do that. I know for me, my main thing is I want to win and I want to win now… I’m going to do whatever I have to do to win a championship.”"
The fact that Melo is considering recruiting players to try to win in New York is a good sign for the Knicks. Unfortunately for the Knicks, they might have to bank on that for him to remain with the team.
They will be over the NBA salary cap until the 2015 off-season, at the earliest, and they do not have any draft picks in the 2014 NBA Draft. The positive thing is that he said on SportsCenter that he willing to take a pay cut, so Knicks’ owner James, Jim, Dolan could improve the team.
The likelihood of Dolan improving the team enough to entice Melo to stay is very slim, but there is still a chance. The other reason I did not list Melo higher on the Melo Meter is because they are mathematically alive to make a playoff appearance this season.
Despite all the reported struggles the Knicks have dealt with this season, they could still make the playoffs. There are 21 games remaining in the team’s regular season and they are six games behind the Hawks for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
If the Knicks could make the playoffs this season, despite everything they have dealt with, then it could persuade Melo to stay with the team. It is unlikely that they make the playoffs, but there still is a chance.
The Knicks will attempt to snap their seven-game losing streak against Kevin Love and the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday. In the last meeting between these two teams, Nov. 3, the Timberwolves defeated the Knicks 109-100.